In his first season in Major League Soccer, Carlos Alvarez arrived to Chivas USA as a University of Connecticut grad selected by the Rojiblancos with the second-overall pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft and three games into the 2013 Regular Season found himself inching his way into the starting 11.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder has started in 15 of his 18 games played in his rookie campaign and has tallied a goal and two assists. With his high-paced style of play and defensive grit, Alvarez has displayed a disposition to learn, which has allowed him to log significant minutes and continue to develop in MLS.

Alvarez came off the bench in last Saturday’s road match against the San Jose Earthquakes and was among the Red-and-White’s crop of new young prospects that have been gaining valuable experience on the pitch this season, which has helped them to become battle-tested heading into the final third of the season.

“It’s something we value a lot as young players,” said Alvarez. “We’re trying to learn as much as we can from the few older guys that we have here. At the end of the day we’re just trying to play and be eleven players on the field and compete. That’s the main thing, compete.”

With players such as goalkeeper and captain Dan Kennedy, Carlos Bocanegra and Eric Avila, the young nucleus of Goats have a veteran presence at every position to lean on for advice both on and off the pitch. Aside from Kennedy and Bocanegra, no other member of Saturday’s starting 11 for Head Coach Jose Luis Real’s squad was over the age of 25, which Alvarez has indeed contributed to and learned from.

“Obviously they’ve been in the league for a couple years already,” Alvarez commented on the team’s veterans. “They’re here for a reason and they’re great players. We want to reach the level where they are now, that’s our goal as professional players and to try and improve this club.”

Alvarez has gradually gained confidence in his play on the ball since his first couple of starts in the season. Where the central midfielder once looked to secure possession and distribute, he now shows a willingness and aggressiveness to go forward and look to score or lay it off to the forwards or wingers.

“It’s similar to college. The first year you try to learn as much as you can and try to help your team at the same time. But the more you learn the better it is for the following seasons. [Real] just tells us to have confidence. He wants us to work hard and play as a unit. He trusts the young guys and he’s trying to give us the opportunity and we just need to take advantage of it,” concluded Alvarez.